Gang-plank.



No. 686,490. Patented Nov. I2,` I90l.

W. F. UPHOFF.

GANG PLANK.

(Application tiled Hay 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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No. 686,490. Patented Nay. I2, |90I. W. F. UPHDFF.

G A N G P L AN K.

(Application led May 17, 1901.)

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UNITED STATE-s VPATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM F. UPHQFF, vOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GANG-PLANK.:

SBECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,490, dated November12, I1901.

Application filed May 17, 1901. Serial No. 60,628. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern/ lv F Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. UPHOFF, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city ofChicago, in the county of- Cook and Stateof Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Gang-Planks, of which thefollowingis a speciflcation.

My invention relates to gang-planks for bridging over the space betweena car and a stationary platform, or between cars placed side by side;and the object thereof is to provide a simple, stron g, and durableplank that shall be self-adjusting to varying heights of the platformsor cars to be bridged between, which at all times'will present' ateither end a slanting or graduated face to the wheels of trucks whichare to be moved thereover, and which shall automaticallylock in theposition in which it is placed to prevent longitudinal movement anddanger of falling between the supports.

The principles of my invention are illustrated in the drawings forming apart of this specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a top view of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same as used to bridgebetween two cars and also to connect one of said cars to aWarehouseplatform. Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the mainportion of said plank. Fig. 4 is a side'view of the same as used tobridge between supports of substantially, equal height. Fig. 5 is across-section of the same on the line 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a view ofthe approach shown in Fig. l looked at from right to left. Fig. 7 is across-section of `the same on the dottedline 7 7 ofFig. 6." Fig."8 is acrosssection thereof on the dotted line 8 8'of Fig. l. Fig. 9 is anenlarged side view of one end of the main portion of the plank, showingthe application of stops thereto. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section ofan alternative'formof stop which maybe used in connection with the mainplank. Fig. 11 isa cross-section of the same. Fig. 12 is a longitudinalsection of one end of the main plank, showing the last-named stopapplied thereto and in operative position;

Further referring to the drawings, in which like letters and charactersof reference denote like parts throughout, A indicates the mainy orbridge portion of my gang-plank, which may be constructed,preferably, ofmetal and 'is provided'with longitudinal strengthening-ribs B. The saidribs may be of different widths, and as I prefer to construct them in aplank of ordinary Width for freight-car use there may be three narrowones with two wider ones vplaced between the central and outside ribs.The ends of the plank are rounded or sloped and should proj ect a shortdistance below the lower edges of the rib, as indicated at b, Fig. 9,for the purpose hereinafter set out, the width of the narrow ribs 4beingdetermined by the amount of this projection and the Wide ribs beingsuitably reduced by cutting away or notching, as hereinafter described.Notches in the wide ribs are provided ,at either end, the shoulders ofwhich, b', make a bearing against the edge of a car or platform toprevent longitudinal movement. Where the plank is used to bridge betweensupports of substantially equal'height, the face of the notched orcut-away portion should be substantially parallel to the face of theplank; but as the height of cars varies, both with reference to eachother and the stationary warehouse-platforms, it is desirable to havethe notches at one end of the plank which may be used on the highersupport slanted, as shown at b in Fig. 9.

For the highest end of the plank and to give a sloping access thereto oftrucks and the like and to prevent the shock which rolling or drawingthereof against the end of the plank might cause, with the resultingtendency to drive the plank out of position, I provide an approach C,which may be secured .in stationary position.. This may be made of sheetmetal of suitable thickness and of such width vas will give a long andeasy approach to the plank A. The edge c should be straight, so las tohave an even'bearing throughout its length upon the door on which it isplaced. The other edge `c""is` raised for a length corresponding to thewidth of the main portion of the gang-plank A, -s'oas to form a lipunder which lthe same may be inserted. Supports or abutments c" may beplaced underneath, if desired, to prevent the downward bending of themetal. To secure the approach in place, I provide ou the flat IOO orunraised portion thereof a latch D, which is preferably of spring metaland secured to the Iiat portion of thc approach by the rivet d, so thatthe other end of the latch is normally in a raised position, as shown inFig. 8. Secured to the free end of the latch is a piu or stud E, sharpat the lower end, which is adjusted to register with the opening e inthe plate to which the latch is secured. A staple e' spans the latch andprotects the same against accidental injury.

The shoulders of the notches or cut-away portions ofthe widestrengthening-ribs provide means by which the plank is protected againstlongitudinal movement, provided the supports between which the plank isused are at the proper distance from each other. In case the saidsupports are ata greater distance from each other than represented bythe shoulders of the notches it is important to provide against endwiseslipping, and this I do by means of automatically-acting stops placed onthe under side of the main plank A. One form of stop which is applicableto such use is shown in enlarged detail in Fig. 9. The stop thereinshown consists of a heavy weighted portion F and a tailpiece f, thewhole being centrally pivoted at f to one or more of thestrengthening-ribs. The construction of the stops is such that when thedistance between the supports is greater than the distance between theshoulders of the stationary notches at either end of thestrengtheningribs the proper stop will fall to engage the edge of thesupport, the stops nearer to the end of the plank being turned up out ofthe way beside the rib to which they are attached by contact with thefloor of the support. This function of the stop is shown in Fig. 4. Theform of stop just described is specially adapted for use at the lowerend.

An alternative form of stop applicable to the higher end of the plankwhen the supports to be bridged are of unequal height is shown in Figs.l0, 11, and l2. This consists of a number of blocks G, ofT-shapedsection, inclosed in a box having sides g, with inwardly-projectingflanges g', adapted to engage the projecting portions of the inclosedblocks, allowing them to drop belowthe edges of the blocks or to befreely pressed up within the same when the plank is placed in positionupon a support.

The practical operation of my device will be readily understood from theforegoing description when the main plank only is applied to bridgebetween supports, as shown in Fig. 4, or between the cars, asillustrated in Fig. 2. In the latter figure the space between theplatform illustrated and the car next thereto the adjustable approach(shown in Fig. 1) is exhibited in section. In this use of my device theplank is placed in position, the stops at both ends automaticallyadjusting themselves to prevent longitudinal movement. Freight-cars as arule are provided on the threshold, at the extreme outer edge esa-19othereof, with a protecting-strip of metal laid on the upper sidethereof. The downwardlyprojecting end b of the plank A is adapted to fitthereover and lie beyond the edge of such strip on the side within thecar. The main plank having been placed in this position, the approach Cis laid over the upper end of the plank within the car and the stud Edriven down into the car-Hoor, so as to secure the same firmly in place.When thus adjusted, the whole makes a smooth and continuous runway,which cannot be accidentally displaced and which can be readily removedby withdrawing the pin E bya claw or other convenient means. Such pinbeing permanently mounted on the latch D, it is always in position forimmediate application, as desired.

I have described my invention with reference to complete and operativeembodiments of the same. I do not, however, limit myself to thestructural forms shown; but

I claim, and desire to secu re by Letters Patent, the following:

l. In a gang-plank, a platform having slanted ends and longitudinalstrengthening-ribs on the under side thereof, substantially as setforth.

2. In a gang-plank, a platform having slanted ends and a longitudinalstrengthening-rib, said rib having notches at the ends on the lower sidethereof, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gang-plank, a platform having longitudinal strengtheningribs andslanted ends, said ends projecting below the lower edges of said ribs,substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with a freight-car having a threshold-strip in thedoorway thereof, a gang-plank with longitudinal strengtheningribs andslanted ends, said ends projecting below the lower edges of said ribs attheir proximate portion and adapted to seat themselves in the rear ofsaid threshold-strip, substantially as set forth.

5. In a gang-plank having a platform with a slanted end, a longitudinalstrengtheningrib on the under side thereof, the central portion of whoselower edge projects as far downward as the line of the slanted end, andhaving a notch in the lower side whose bottom is substantially parallelto the main portion of the platform, and a secondary notchwhose bottomis in aline at an angle to the main portion of the platform,substantially as set forth.

6. In a gang-plank, the combination of a main portion and an auxiliaryportion, the latter being adapted to house over the end of the mainportion and means for detachably securing the auxiliary portion to astationary support, substantially as set forth.

7. In a gang-plank, the combination of a main portion and an auxiliaryportion the latter being adapted to house over the end of the mainportion, and having a spring-latch one end of which is secured theretoand to the other end of which is attached a stud adapted to reach beyondthe lower side of IKO and a casing having internally-turned flanges toengage said blocks, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 15 hand, this 15th day of May,1901, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM F. UPHOFF.

said auxiliary portion, substantially as set forth.

8. In a gang-plank, a platform having longitudinal strengthening-ribsand slanted ends and stops applied to the under side of said plankadapted normally to drop below the lower edge of saidstrengthening-ribs, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with a gang-plank, astop attached to the lower sidethereof comprising a multiplicity of blocks of T-shaped sectionWitnesses:

ANNIE S. PHILLIPS, C. K. CHAMBERLAIN.

